The Bachelor's Bride by Holly Bush

Author:Holly Bush [Bush, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-578-23810-4
Publisher: Holly Bush

Chapter 13

“Pardon me, Mother?” Alexander asked as he picked up his fork and knife.

“I’ve planned a party—more a ball really, considering the number of guests who’ve said yes.”

Alexander was having dinner with his parents and Annabelle, as he did every Sunday evening. He glanced at his father. “This is the first I’m hearing about it, Mother.”

“I didn’t know I needed to ask your permission, darling,” his mother said with raised brows as she sipped her wine from a long-stemmed crystal glass.

“Of course you don’t need my permission. It’s just that there are several . . . things going on that may prove challenging for entertaining.”

“Such as?”

Alexander cut his filet mignon and shrugged, hoping to appear more nonchalant than he felt. “Well, security for one thing. You know that Father has added security to the house and the factory and to the two of you,” he said with a nod to Annabelle. “Large groups are a challenge even for Graham. Am I right, Father?”

“You are absolutely right,” he said sternly. “Your mother and I have had one of our rare disagreements about it, but she and your sister have run roughshod over me. I’ve got three meetings planned with Graham on the subject. You’re welcome to attend. In fact, I wish you would, considering who all is on the guest list.”

Alexander turned his head to his mother. “Not the usual? Uncle Nathan and Aunt Isadora? Your committee ladies? Some of Father’s cronies?”

“She’s invited all of them,” his sister said and studied the asparagus on her fork. “She’s also invited people whom she’s never invited before.”

“Must this be a guessing game?” he said with a laugh. “It would take me all evening to name all the Philadelphians who would kill to get an invitation to one of Mother’s balls.”

“I’ve invited the Misses Thompson, their brother, and their aunt,” his mother said. “I am much looking forward to meeting the whole family again. I haven’t asked the youngest brother. Not quite old enough, but I will if you would like me to.”

Alexander shook his head in disbelief and looked at his father, who was grim-faced. He turned to his mother and struggled to keep his voice even. “I wish you would have said something to me earlier. I would not want to raise any expectations from that family, and there are other matters that must be taken into consideration.”

“Miss Kirsty and Miss Elspeth are friends of mine, Alexander,” Annabelle said. “I thought they may be more inclined to come if the whole family was invited.”

Alexander stood. He had to, otherwise he would shout his displeasure. “Father, may we speak in the study? Now?”

Andrew Pendergast rose and laid his napkin beside his plate. “I assumed you’d want to speak straightaway. We’ll be back shortly, Gwen. Annabelle.”

Alexander could barely hold his temper until he closed his father’s study door. “You’ve got to stop this, Father! Elspeth was followed home last week by two men, one of whom beat me up in that alley the night of the fight.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.